Equalizer for two-part beds



1936- s. RRAKAUER ET 'AL EQUALIZER FOR TWO PART BEDS Filed June 25, 1934 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 (PATENT OFFICE EQUALIZER FOR TWO-PART ma s Samuel'Krakauer and Samuel S. Marcus,

. New York, N. Y.

ApplicationJune 25, 1934', Serial No. 732,330

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to beds, and particularly to convertible couch beds known as studio couches, wherein there are a plurality of frames, slidable relative to each other to nested position when the structure is to be used as a couch, and slidable to extended position when the structure is to be used as a double bed.

In the types of beds above mentioned, which have been in general use, it is highly desirable to have the structure resemble a couch at certain times, with no obvious indication that it is a convertible bed, and to accomplish this the part or parts which fits under the other or others must be completely concealed. To guide the respective parts during movement thereof relative to each other, there have been provided means, such as interconnected links. However, such means as generally used for affording the guiding movement of the parts relative to each other, have been so constructed and arranged as to necessitate the reduction in the width of the under part. For instance, the interconnected links heretofore used, have been straight, pivotally connected at their centers and connected at their ends to the frames of the parts, so that they work as a lazy-tong. Due to the fact that the frame or top of one of the couch parts is higher than the other, and further due to the fact that the pivotally connected links are also each connected at opposite ends to the respective parts, when one part is moved under the other it is impossible to completely aline the points of connection between the links and frame, and consequently the one part could not completely move under the other when of the same width. Therefore, it has been necessary to reduce the width of one of the parts several inches in order to permit it to be completely concealed under the other when straight links are used.

The principal general object of our present invention is to provide an equalizer or connecting means for the parts of a studio couch affording guided movement of one part relative to the other, and permitting both of the parts to be made of the same width, so that there is no sacrificing in area of the frame on which the springs of the bed and the mattress are supported.

The foregoing object of the invention and the means for accomplishing the same will become more apparent and will be pointed out during the course of the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the parts of a studio couch in open position and connected by an equalizer embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the couch shown in Fig. 1 closed, and with the equalizer folded;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the equalizer connected to the parts of a studio couch showing in full lines the parts in folded position, and in dot and dash lines the parts in extended position; and

Fig. 6 is a reduced perspective view of the frames of a studio couch showing a modification in the connection between the equalizer and frames.

In the drawing, the letter A designates generally the frame of the upper part of the studio couch, and the letter B the frame of the under part. Each of the frames is composed of angle strips I at the ends thereof, and similar side strips 2 and 3 joined to the end strips on the frame B, and 4 and 5 on the frame A. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the frame A is supported on legs 6 and the frame B has secured thereto legs 1 preferably carrying casters 8 to facilitate the movement of the frame B relative to the frame A. However, the frame A may be made the movable one and frame B the stationary one if desired. It will also be noted that the frame B is lower than the frame A. This much of the structure of studio couches is not new, and our invention resides in providing in connection therewith, means to guide the frame B accurately with respect to the frame A, or vice versa, and to limit the outward movement of the movable frame while providing that the frames shall be of even width and yet aifording complete concealment of the frame B under the frame A.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, we provide a pair of links, one designated generally by the numeral 9 being substantially straight, and the other designated generally by the numeral Hi having one straight arm II and offset adjacent its center as designated by the numeral l2, and a curved end 13. The plate 3 of the frame B is provided adjacent one end with a slot l4, and one end of the lever 9 carries a pin l5 which is disposed in the slot and slidable therealong as hereinafter explained. To one end of the plate 5 on frame A, we attach an angle piece l6 as by rivets H, and in the horizontally disposed portion of the piece it we provide a slot l8 similar to the slot l4 and substantially in alinement therewith. The straight arm I I of the link I D is provided with a rivet I9 disposed in the slot I8 and also slidable therealong. The links 9 and I 0 are pivotally connected at 20 at their approximate centers, and the curved end I3 of the arm I0 is pivotally connected by a pin 2| to the top of the plate 3 adjacent its end opposite the end provided with the slot I4. The other end of the link 9 is pivotally connected by a rivet 22 to anangle piece 23 secured to the plate 5 by rivets 24.

It will be noted that the center of link I0 is disposed on top of the link 9 and that the end I I is higher than the end |.3, due to the fact that the part I6 is higher than the plate 3,. Similarly the point of connection 22 is higher than the point of connection I5 of the link 9. However, with the parts constructed, arranged and connected as above described, when the links are folded from the full line position of Fig. '1 110 the full line position of. Fig. 2, the end I3 of the link ID is disposed under the end of the link 19 which is connected to .the frame 5, whereas the end I I of the link In is disposed above the opposite end of the .link 9. ,In ,all relative positions of the interconnected links, that is, whether completely folded as .shown' in Fig. 2 .or completely extended as shownin Fig. l, the pivotal points 2;], 2i and I9 are always in a straight line and this permits making the frame .B of the same width as the frame. A.:and completely slidable thereunder, because the points of connection 2|, I5, move under and into alinement with the points of connection 22, I9 in the completely folded position.

Obviously, during the folding movement which is accomplished merely by pushing the frame B in, the pin I5 and rivet I9 move along the slots I4 and I8 toward the outer ends of the slots; and whenthe frame B is pulled out the pin I5 and rivet I9 move in the reverse direction in the slots 14 and I8 to the position of Fig. 1. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the plate 3 of the frame B is .under the plate 5 of the frame A when the structure is completely folded, and it will be understood that the plate 2 will be under the corresponding plate 4 of the frame A when the structure is completely folded.

Although we have shown the link 9 connected at one end to a plate 23 supported by the frame 5, and the end II of the link I0 supported to a similar plate I6 on the plate 5, we wish it to be understood that either the link 9 or the arm II of link In, orboth, maybe connected to the upper horizontal portion of the frame 5 instead of providing the separate plates 23 and I6. This is illustrated in Fig. 6 where the primed numerals designate corresponding unprimed parts of Figs. 1-5.

We do not limit the invention to the exact curvature or relative shape and arrangement of the links as shown in the drawing, because it may be possible to vary the shapes of the links while retaining the important feature of providing for the complete folding of the links with all of the pivotal points substantially in a common vertical plane which permits the complete nesting of the parts of the bed when both are of the same width.

Since the connections I5 and 2| are by pins disposed in openings in the part 3 of the frame B, these pins may be lifted out of the openings so that the bed parts of equal width may be completely separated and used separately if desired. In such case both beds would be of substantially the same size, whereas the means hereinbefore discussed and used for connecting bed parts of this type prior to our invention, one of the ,parts is considerably narrower than the other.

We claim:

Ina bed :of the character described having .two frames, one higher. than the other and moveable thereover, and said beds being movtable with relation to each other, and both being of substantially the same, width, the combination with said bed frames of a pair of inter- .pivoted longitudinal links connected to two ad- .J'acent and similar rails on the same edge of the two bed frames, two of the contiguous bed frame rails being. thus united by these links while the other two contiguous rails do not have the links connected to them, one .of said links .being substantially straight and connected pivotally at one of its ends to one rail of the higher frame adjacent one end thereof, and at its other end having a pin and slot connection with the similar contiguous rail of the lower frame adjacent one end thereof, the other link being offset at one side of the interpivotal connection "between the two links and having a curved end pivotally connected to one end of the contiguous side rail of the lower frame, the other end of the said second link having a pin and slot connection with the opposite end of the contiguous side rail .of the higher frame, said latter pin and slot connection, in-terpivotal connection between the links, and pivotal connection between the curved end of one link and the contiguous side rail of the lower frame being in a substantially straight line, so that when the lower frame is moved under the higher frame, or the higher frame is moved over the lower frame, to bring the two frames of equal width over one another, the offset link may fold up in direct and close association with the straight link, one end of said straight link being under and the other end being over the offset link when the two links are thus closely nested together in a vertical plane in association with the two parallel rails at one side of two frames so that all of the pivotal connections will be disposed substantially in a straight line and in the vertical plane of said straight link when the two beds are closely nested together with the two interpivoted links 3511? perposed one over the other.

SAMUEL KRAKAUER. SAMUEL S. MARCUS. 

